When you meet a strange Chinese character (汉字) what will you do? Surely, the most reliable way is to look it up in Xinhua Dictionary.
Since its birth in 1953, Xinhua Dictionary has been a must-have book in schools across China. More than 567 million copies had been sold by 2016. So it was even recognized by the Guinness World Records as the “most popular dictionary” that year.
Small as the dictionary is, it means a lot to China. The dictionary was given the name Xinhua by the chief editor Wei Jiangong, and it carried the hope of a country reborn. In 1949, around 80% of China’s population wasn’t able to get education (教育). It was Xinhua Dictionary that had reduced the number to 52% by 1964. To make it easier for illiterate people to understand, the earliest copies had many pictures.
Thanks to Xinhua Dictionary, many Chinese got new chances in their life. Mo Yan, the 69-year-old Nobel Laureate, once mentioned the dictionary in his speech. He said that he was lucky to have a copy of the dictionary after dropping out from school. He learned most of Chinese characters from it, and that helped him write novels and enter a college later.
This important dictionary has also recorded the development of the language and society. It is revised (修订) every five to ten years. Recent copies have included many new explanations. The character “晒” (to dry something in the sun), for example, now has a second meaning: to share. In a way, the dictionary hasn’t just explained characters; it has reflected (反映) the way Chinese people think.
1. When did Xinhua Dictionary first come out?| A．In 1949. | B．In 1953. | C．In 1964. | D．In 2016. |
| A．People who are bad at maths. | B．People who can’t draw or sing. |
| C．People who are too old to see. | D．People who can’t read or write. |
| A．To share a speech about the dictionary. | B．To offer advice on using the dictionary. |
| C．To show the influence of the dictionary. | D．To explain the development of the dictionary. |
| A．Nature. | B．People. | C．Culture. | D．Business. |
相似题推荐
A study of sleep in sparrows suggests the relationship between sleep and the ability to learn may be more complicated(复杂) than people knew.
Niels C·Rattenborg, a scientist from Wisconsin-Madison, wanted to find out how the sparrows were able to deal with getting so much less sleep. He and his team brought eight wild birds into a lab and watched them for one year. They invented a game to check how well the birds could learn. In the game, the sparrows had to peck(啄)three buttons （按钮）in a right order to get a food treat. The scientists discovered that the birds’ ability to learn the right button order depended on(依靠)two things: the time of year and the amount of sleep the birds had had.
During the migration（迁徙）season, the sparrows were restless at night and got much less sleep than usual. Even so, they were able to understand how to get the food quickly as if they’d had a regular night of sleep. Outside the migration season, they found the sparrows that got less sleep than usual had much more difficulty learning how to get the food treats than birds that had a regular sleep.
The results show that the sparrows can deal with much less sleep during the migration season than usual. If scientists can find out why, they may learn from sparrows and find ways of helping people deal with getting much less sleep. Until scientists fully understand the relationship between sleep and learning, it’s better to get plenty of sleep when preparing for an exam.
1. The passage is mainly about .
| A．sparrows’ migration. |
| B．sleep lessons from Sparrows. |
| C．how to get less sleep while studying |
| D．how sparrows that got less sleep get food treats |
| A．They eat more. |
| B．The climate is better |
| C．They can get food quickly |
| D．Scientists still don’t know the reason. |
| A．We should sleep as little as sparrows do. |
| B．We should get enough sleep before an exam. |
| C．When tired, we should try to focus on(聚焦) our study. |
| D．When tired, we should check how we can sleep less than usual. |
【推荐2】There are many unsolved mysteries in life even though science, technology, and research have come a very long way. Let’s enjoy the following unsolved mysteries.
The Bermuda Triangle(百慕大三角)
Located in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean, the Bermuda Triangle is a loosely-defined(宽松定义的) area. It is said that a number of planes and ships have disappeared. Pilots say their instruments can’t work there.
The Loch Ness Monster(尼斯湖水怪)
For ages, people have been hearing about the Loch Ness Monster. Over the years photos and videos of actual footprints(脚印) have been checked and watched over and over again. People want to find out if it could be a sea snake or a dinosaur(恐龙). Even today, it may still exist and swim under the waters.
Nazca Geoglyphs (纳斯卡地画)
Nazca Geoglyphs are located in southern Peru and cover about 170 square miles. There are numbers of things from the natural world to the human imagination such as monkeys, sharks, flowers and so on. But the exact meanings of many of the geoglyphs remain unknown.
1. Where is The Bermuda Triangle?| A．In the east of the North Atlantic Ocean. | B．In the west of the North Atlantic Ocean. |
| C．In the north of the North Atlantic Ocean. | D．In the south of the North Atlantic Ocean. |
| A．Because the monster is very beautiful. | B．Because they are interested in the living thing. |
| C．Because they want to know what it is actually. | D．Because the monster will disappear soon. |
| A．There used to be large numbers of aliens. |
| B．Ships get lost there from time to time. |
| C．The instruments of the planes can’t work there. |
| D．People don’t know the true meanings of some geoglyphs. |
【推荐3】What time of day can you think most quickly? Are you a morning person? Or does it take you a few hours to get your brain(脑) going? A lot of recent research suggests(表明) that we should pay attention to our body clock. It can tell us what time of day we can perform best at.
Many people work best later in the morning. This is because the body’s temperature rises quickly. But everyone’s body clock is different and some are special. Morning people will get up early and work better early in the day. Evening people will work later but work better towards the end of the day.
Research shows that we’re better at some activities at certain times of the day. Physical performance(体能) is at its best between 3 pm and 6 pm, so it’s better to exercise later in the day. Between noon and 4 pm, people begin to pay less attention. This is because we think less quickly after a big meal. Research also shows we become sleepy around 2 pm. This is why people in Spain take a short sleep in early afternoon.
Finally, it is best to eat when we’re active. This allows our body to burn calories(卡路里) better and stops our blood sugar levels（血糖）from getting too high.
1. can tell us what time of day we can perform best at.| A．Morning people | B．A warm shower | C．Our body clock |
| A．get up late but work better |
| B．work better early in the day |
| C．only work in the early morning |
| A．Between 3 pm and 6 pm. |
| B．Between 7 pm and 10 pm. |
| C．Between noon and 4 pm. |
| A．Because eating makes the brain unable to think quickly. |
| B．Because it makes our blood sugar levels higher. |
| C．Because our body can burn more calories. |
| A．How can we work better? |
| B．The perfect time to do something |
| C．The best time to exercise |
Some American students will come to Li Fang’s school next Sunday. Li Fang is going to introduce Chinese culture to them. She wants to talk about the following things.
| Traditional Chinese Medicine (also known as TCM) includes a lot of traditional medical methods beginning in China. TCM methods include treatments such as herbal medicine (草药). Traditional Chinese Medicine is very scientific through careful study of nature and the human body. Sun Simiao, known as the King of Medicine, was a famous doctor in the Tang Dynasty. |
| The Chinese Zodiac, known as Shengxiao, follows a twelve-year cycle. Each year is named for an animal. Twelve animals are as follows: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. For example, the year 2024 is the Year of the Dragon. |
| In China, a whole fish means richness. At a party, it is a tradition to serve the whole fish at the end. Fish has a special meaning because Chinese word for fish, “yu” sounds like the word for richness. |
1. When will some American students come to Li Fang’s school?
| A．Next Monday. | B．Next Tuesday. | C．Next Friday. | D．Next Sunday. |
| A．2033 | B．2031 | C．2029 | D．2027 |
| A．At the beginning of the dinner. | B．In the middle of the dinner |
| C．At the end of the dinner | D．Any time during the dinner. |
| A．Traditional Chinese Medicine is called TCM for short. |
| B．Lu Yu was a famous doctor in the Tang Dynasty. |
| C．Traditional Chinese Medicine is scientific through careful study of animals. |
| D．The Chinese Zodiac follows a twelve-month cycle. |
| A．To sell books. | B．To introduce Chinese culture. |
| C．To share a fun story. | D．To teach how to make fish |
This famous poem, with four couplets, was written by Du Fu(712—770, Tang Dynasty) when he was living and farming in Chengdu. His farming experience taught him to be thankful to nature.
The very first word, “good”, shows the poet’s joy and love for the spring rain. The rain is good because it “knows” the proper time to come. Here the poet uses personification(拟人), as if the rain were smart enough to come in time for the farmer’s busy season.
When the rain comes, it appears during the night without making any noise. Unlike the summer storms, the spring rain finishes its task without being known.
In the third couplet, the poet describes a peaceful scene to us. In the night sky, the clouds look dark and heavy. It’s a sign that there will be enough rain during the night. The light from the riverboat makes the dark scene a bit livelier.
Lastly, the poet starts to imagine. Tomorrow morning, he thinks, the city of Chengdu will become beautiful when all of the flowers bloom(盛开) after the rain.
根据语篇内容，选择最佳选项。
1. What’s the Chinese title of the poem Happy Rain on a Spring Night?
| A．《春望》 | B．《春夜喜雨》 | C．《夜雨寄北》 |
| A．aa-bb-cc-dd | B．ab-ab-cd-cd | C．ab-cd-ab-cd |
| A．Busy. | B．Dark. | C．Quiet. |
| A．With wind it steals in night. |
| B．It will fall when comes spring. |
| C．The town’s heavy with blooms (blooming flowers). |
| A．He’s thankful to nature. |
| B．He loves and enjoys farming. |
| C．He expects the flowers to bloom. |
【推荐3】Taiyuan Ancient County lies in the Jinyuan District of Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. It was first built in the Ming Dynasty, more than 600 years ago. It is part of the Jinyang ancient city relics. On May 1, 2021, Taiyuan Ancient County first opened to welcome the tourists.
The movie Full River Red, directed by Zhang Yimou, came out on Jan. 22, 2023 and topped China’s box office（票房）in a short time. It was named after Yue Fei’s most famous poem, which tells a patriotic（爱国的）story of the Song Dynasty. As the place where the movie was filmed, Taiyuan Ancient County has attracted about 350,000 tourists during the Spring Festival holiday. If you would like to pay it a visit, the following information can help you.
 Taiyuan Ancient County Scenic Spot（景点） Working hours: 9:30 a.m.～10:00 p.m. Tickets: Free for entry（进入） For main scenic spots and activities: ★The Filming Base of Full River Red: ￥20 ★County Wall: ￥20 ★County Government: ￥28 ★Lantern Fair（灯会）: ￥50 Address: Jinyuan North Outer Ring Street, Taiyuan Transportation: Buses 856, 804, 905, 79 Service telephone: 0351-6598888 |
| A．is in Jiangxi Province | B．was called Jinyang ancient city |
| C．first opened on May 1, 2022 | D．has a history of over 600 years |
| A．is directed by Chen Kaige | B．tells a patriotic story of Yue Fei |
| C．was very popular after filming | D．only came out at Taiyuan Ancient County |
| A．have to enter it before 9:00 a.m. |
| B．can call 0351-6598888 to book tickets |
| C．don’t need to spend money on entry tickets |
| D．can find it on Jinyuan South Outer Ring Street |
| A．￥28 | B．￥60 | C．￥84 | D．￥150 |
| A．introduce the movie Full River Red |
| B．attract visitors to Taiyuan Ancient County |
| C．show the development of Taiyuan’s tourism |
| D．learn from the poem Full River Red |
【推荐1】What is your favorite day of the year? For me, it is Ice-cream Day!
American people love ice-cream very much. So July is Ice-cream Month, and the third Sunday of July is Ice-cream Day in the United States. How do American people celebrate (庆祝) it? Many ice-cream stores have big sales on this day. You can get free ice-cream, or you can get ice-cream with low prices in the stores. Philadelphia (费城) has a big ice-cream festival every year. You can get all different flavors (口味) of ice-cream there! After you buy a ticket (票) , they give you a spoon (匙). With that spoon, you can eat all your favorite ice-cream!
You can also make your own ice-cream at home, and then take it to your family and friends. Don’t just have easy ice-cream. What about making some ice-cream sandwiches or an ice-cream cake? That sounds very interesting.
Many people just go out and eat their favorite ice-cream. This is the best way to celebrate this day.
1. What does the underlined word “low” mean in Chinese?| A．低廉的 | B．高昂的 | C．适中的 | D．预期的 |
①go to an ice-cream store
②buy a ticket of an ice-cream festival
③have an ice-cream party
④make some food with ice-cream
⑤make ice-cream at home
| A．①②③④ | B．①②③⑤ | C．②③④⑤ | D．①②④⑤ |
| A．Philadelphia has an ice-cream festival every month. |
| B．Only middle school students can get free ice-cream. |
| C．People can get a spoon after they buy a festival ticket. |
| D．Many stores have big sales in Ice-cream Month. |
| A．Where to celebrate Ice-cream Day. |
| B．How to celebrate Ice-cream Day. |
| C．When to celebrate Ice-cream Day. |
| D．Why people celebrate Ice-cream Day. |
In the latest issue (期) of Youth magazine, the mother shared the school advice she gave her daughters with young people across the country.
“I’ve told my daughters many times that I don’t want them to choose a name,” the mother said. “I don’t want them to think, ‘Oh, I should go to these top schools.’ We live in a country with hundreds of excellent universities. So the first question is: what’s going to work for me?”
“When it was time to prepare for picking schools, nobody around me believed I could get into Xiamen University. But through hard work I finally made it,” she continued. “So, my second piece of advice is: believe in yourself, no matter what other people might say. Once your goal is set, you only need to try your best to make it come true.”
“The last piece of advice is not to be worried even if your dreams don’t come true. As I’ve said above, there are so many good universities out there. So it’s important for everybody to understand that you can always find a university that gives you a great education.”
1. The mother shared her advice ________.
| A．with her students | B．with her husband |
| C．in Youth magazine | D．in Xiamen University |
| A．a story of her daughters | B．a story of her own |
| C．some different reasons | D．some different ideas |
| A．we can realize our dream through hrad work |
| B．the name of the university isn’t the most important |
| C．it’s not necessary to care what other people might say |
| D．more than one university can give us a good education |
| A．Colorful University Life |
| B．Best School Education |
| C．A Report on University Building |
| D．Advice on School Picking |
【推荐3】There are so many interesting truths about animals. Do you know them? Let's have a look.
Chickens are only animals with combs（头冠）, a piece of red flesh on the top of their heads. And they can only fly a few yards because of their heavy bodies.
Ants are important in keeping the balance（平衡）of nature. They eat large numbers of insects and help them from being plentiful. They eat many termites（白蚁）each year to keep them from destroying many homes. In turn, they are important food for birds, frogs and other animals.
The beautiful colors and patterns on the wings of butterflies have useful purposes（目的）：It is for other butterflies to distinct（辨别）them; It is for absorbing（吸收）the sun's heat which they need to live; It is to hide from enemies such as birds or other animals; It is to warn the enemies.
Frogs are called amphibians because they can stay both in water and on land.
Kangaroo's huge hind legs can jump over a nine-foot wall. It can beat off a dozen of dogs. Its tail can break a man's leg like a matchstick.
1. Which animals are important in keeping the balance of nature?| A．Chickens. | B．Frogs. | C．Kangaroos. | D．Ants. |
| A．Because it has combs. |
| B．Because it has a piece of red flesh. |
| C．Because its body is heavy. |
| D．Because it can fly a few yards. |
| A．两栖动物 | B．哺乳动物 | C．鸟类动物 | D．爬行动物 |
| A．Combs are a piece of black flesh on the top of chicken’s heads. |
| B．Birds and frogs eat many termites each year. |
| C．The beautiful colors and patterns on the wings are useful to butterflies. |
| D．Kangaroos can' t jump very high but they are very strong. |
